Category: Asia
Taj Mahal and on to Orchha (by train)
Day 2 in Jaipur…Jal Mahal – Jantar Mantar – Amer Fort
Day 1 in Delhi! Gandhi Memorial – Humayun’s Tomb – Spice Market
Connections – India
Connecting the past with the future – in the present! This trip to India is a dream come true for me! I haven’t been to India since I was 8 years old, when I visited with family after my grandfather’s passing. This trip, I will get the opportunity to visit some of the major sites in Delhi, Agra, Jhansi, Orchha, Khajuraho & Varanasi. I will also be attending a conference in Jaipur, meeting a large variety of specialty operators, and doing site inspections of the finest hotels India has to offer. Be sure to follow along for pics and videos of my experience!
Cambodia
India Group Trip
15 hours in Dubai
There was no rest for the wicked as we’d already booked our Burj Khalifa tickets for 9pm so Karen’s friend Dan picked us up and dropped us off at the Moevenpick Hotel and Apartments (where they’d upgraded us to a 1 bedroom suite!) for a quick 10 minute freshen up with what clothing we had on us!
We are so happy to have bought the full Burj Khalifa fast track experience choosing to book our tickets all the way to floor 148. This was the VIP treatment where we were offered fresh juice, Arabic coffee, dates and desserts at the top, and we had a small group with an exclusive viewing time so only 14 people were on the floor with us. After this incredible experience floors 124 and 125 felt crowded and touristic.
After the burj it was nearly 10:30 pm and we were starved. We went out the the Dubai fountain as it’s surrounded by restaurants and went to a more local style restaurant for kebabs that were to die for! We sat down right as the fountain show started and enjoyed the evening al fresco.
Arriving in Dubai
What an incredible, rushed and full day. Firstly our flight from Calgary to Seattle was delayed…three times…this meant that we landed in Seattle with only half an hour to run to our flight. We had to get from gate c to gate s, taking three trains in the process. Luckily, as this delay was due to weather, we weren’t the only people running for the flight and they held the doors for us.
When we arrived on our Emirates flight there was lots of seat space, even in economy. The luxury of Emirates was immediately evident when they brought us toiletry kits and our dinner and breakfast menu only minutes after we’d hit altitude. There were even twinkling stars on the ceiling of the plane. 13 hours later we hit Dubai but, unfortunately, without our bags. They didn’t make the short connection we did.
24 hours and counting
We’ve been talking about this trip for nearly six months so it’s hard to believe we leave tomorrow. This will be an adventure of a lifetime, so we thought we should tell you a bit about where we’re headed and some of the activities we plan to do.
In Dubai we will head straight to the 148 floor of the Burj Khalifa to get an incredible view of the city at night and follow this with visiting the 2nd largest choreographed fountain in the world, the Dubai Fountain, for its evening light and water show.
While in Ol Pejeta Conservancy we’ll go to the Chimp and Rhino sanctuary and see their conservation program at work.
In Samburu we’ll visit with locals as they invite us into their daily lives, allowing us to experience the area and its history through their eyes.
Throughout our stay we’ll be taking in morning and evening game drives, cultural activities and incredible meals amidst visiting a number of other camps not listed. Stay tuned for what’s to come.
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